Hoop Earring and Enhancer Mechanism

Abstract

Earring enhancements attach to an earring such as a hoop earring and allow a decorative element to dangle at or near the center of a hoop. Enhancements may be interchangeable and may attach to a variety of earring styles.

1 . An enhancement for a hoop earring comprising: 
 an attachment member, configured to attach to a hoop earring;    a strut having a first end and second end, wherein the first end is attached to the attachment member and the second end provides a hanger attachment for a hanger such that when the attachment member is attached to a hoop earring behind the ear lobe of a wearer, the strut curves under the ear lobe such that the hanger attachment is positioned above the center of the hoop earring below or slightly in front of the ear lobe of the wearer; and    a hanger having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is attached to the hanger attachment and the second end provides a decorative element, wherein the decorative element is positioned near the center of the hoop.    
   
   
       2 . The enhancement of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment member is permanently attached to a hoop earring.  
   
   
       3 . The enhancement of  claim 1 , wherein the attachment member is configured to be reversibly attached to a hoop earring.  
   
   
       4 . The enhancement of  claim 3 , wherein the attachment member comprises a sleeve sized to slide onto a hoop earring.  
   
   
       5 . The enhancement of  claim 1 , wherein the hanger attachment allows the hanger to sway loosely to provide a free dangling motion of the hanger.  
   
   
       6 . The enhancement of  claim 5 , wherein the hanger attachment comprises two interlocking rings.  
   
   
       7 . The enhancement of  claim 1 , wherein the decorative element comprises one or more precious or semi-precious stones.  
   
   
       8 . The enhancement of  claim 1 , wherein the enhancement comprises a precious metal or precious metal alloy.  
   
   
       9 . The enhancement of  claim 1 , wherein the enhancement comprises gold, silver, iridium, ruthidium, paladium, or platinum.  
   
   
       10 . The enhancement of  claim 1 , wherein the enhancement comprises a non-precious metal having a metal surface composed of a precious metal or precious metal alloy.  
   
   
       11 - 14 . (canceled)  
   
   
       15 . An enhancement for an earring comprising: 
 a curved strut, having a first and a second end, a front and a rear, wherein the first end provides a sleeve configured to receive an earring attachment member, and wherein the second end provides an attachment for a decorative element; and    wherein the strut is configured for attachment to an earring during use, in which when the first end is attached to an earring behind the ear lobe of a wearer the front of the sleeve faces the back of the ear lobe, and wherein the strut extends in a generally downward direction from the first end to a distance below the ear lobe of a wearer, and curves in the forward direction for a distance substantially equal to the width of a wearer's ear lobe and terminates in the second end.    
   
   
       16 . The enhancement of  claim 15 , wherein the earring attachment member is a post of an earring for wear in pierced ears.  
   
   
       17 . The enhancement of  claim 15 , wherein the earring attachment member is a portion of a hoop earring.  
   
   
       18 . The enhancement of  claim 15 , wherein the second end of the strut is attached to a hanger such that the decorative element dangles below the strut.  
   
   
       19 . The enhancement of  claim 18 , wherein the hanger is attached to the strut with interlocking rings.  
   
   
       20 . The enhancement of  claim 15 , wherein the decorative element comprises one or more precious or semi-precious stones.  
   
   
       21 . The enhancement of  claim 15 , wherein the enhancement comprises a precious metal or precious metal alloy.  
   
   
       22 . The enhancement of  claim 15 , wherein the enhancement comprises gold, silver, iridium, ruthidium, paladium, or platinum.  
   
   
       23 . The enhancement of  claim 15 , wherein the enhancement comprises a non-precious metal having a metal surface composed of a precious metal or precious metal alloy.